Chain-carrier mechanism for dry kilns



Dec. 25 1923.

J. B. BARROW CHAIN` CARRIER MECHANISM FOR DRY KILNS Filed June 16. 1920' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [MFE/122i Patented Dec. 25, 1923.r

tlNlED STATES y l Leases PATENT ori-*ics y JOHN B. Minnow,y or MACON, GEORGIA.

` CHAIN-CARRIER MEcHANIsM Fon nnvnrrnvs.vk

Application filed J'une 16, 1920. Serial No. 389,421.

To @ZZ wimmz't concern.'y l

.Beit known that I, JOHN B. BARROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macon. in the county of Bibb and State of (zeorgia, have invented certain new and useful ln'ii'irovementslin Chain-Carrier Mechamsm for Dry Kilns; andI do hereby de- Clare the following to be a full, clear, and' vide means for supporting the chain in order that it may bear against the pieces of lum,- ber in a manner to prevent the lumber from twisting or warping during the drying operation.

lVith these objects in view the kiln comprises a casing or body through which heated air may be passed and located in the body for the purpose of maintaining the temperature thereof at ak predetermined degree. Chain races are located in the body and chains are mounted for movement along the casing. Means are provided for holding the chains stretched. The pieces of lumber are adapted to be received between the runs of the chain which are moving in the same direction and some of the chains are located on the lumber and others of thechains above so that the runs bear against the opposite sides of the pieces of lumber and prevent them from twisting or warping.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the chain carrier dry kiln.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional view through runs of adjacenty conveyors and boards engaged thereby, and

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the race members employed.

The chain carrier dry kiln comprises a casing l preferably of metal with means for passing heated air through the same. Vertlcal disposed means 2 are located in the casing l and serve in part asthe means for supporting the casing and for supporting races l, 3 which are disposed longitudinally of the casing. Horizontally disposed steam pipesy 4 are located in the. casing and are employed for the purpose of heating ythe casing to maintain the interior thereof at a predetermined degree of temperature during the drying process.-

l am conveyors 5 are mounted'for movement along the races 3 and serve as means for moving the pieces of lumber 6 through the casing; at one end of the casing the chains 5 pass around power driven sprocket wheels 7 and at the other end kof the casing the chains pass around loosely mounted sprocket wheels 8. Races 3 are shorter than the chain conveyors 5 and are encircled by them. The axles of the sprocket wheels 8 are journaled in boxes 9 which are slidably mounted in suitable guide members l0, there being springs 1l interposed between the boxes 9 and parts of the guides 10 and the tension ofthe spring ll is such as to have a tendency to hold the sprocket wheels 8 away from the sprocket wheels 7 whereby the runsk of the chains 5 are held properly stretched and the links of the chains are held in close contact with the surfaces of the pieces of lumber 6 and prevent the said pieces kfrom twisting or warping while they are being moved through the casing bv the chain.

In operation heated air is passed through the casing and at the same time steam is admitted into the pipes 4 to maintain the interior of the casing at a predetermined degree of temperature. vThe adjacent runs of the upper and 'lower chains are moving in the same direction and the pieces of lumber are placed between the adjacent runs of the upper and lower chains whereby the said pieces of lumber are carried through the casing and subjected to the drying action of the air and heat. The races serve to hold the chains in proper alinement and the means for stretching the runs thereof at proper position in order that the runs of the chain may properly engage the pieces of lumber.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed is 1. A lumber carrier mechanism for a dry kiln consisting of endless conveyors, means to drive the conveyors, said conveyors being arranged with the lower run of one of them disposed one above the other and one engaging the under surface of said upper run and Y. the other engaging the upper surface of said.

lower run, whereby warping of thev lumber as it travels through the kiln is avoided.

2. A lumber carrier mechanism for a dry kiln consistingI otendless conveyors, means to drive the conveyors, said conveyors being` arranged with the lower run of one of them substantially parallel with, opposite and spaced from the upper run oi" the other conl veyor so that saidruns may engage and Voonvey material, elongated parallel races dis` posed one above the other, and one engaging' the under surface of Said upper run and the otherlengaging,-y the, upper surface of said lower run whereby warping of the lumber las it travels through the kiln is avoided and said races being` shorter than the conveyors r'and'en'c'i1'-cled" by th conveyors respectively. 

